Patriots Fans

[chachee52]

Good to see the Pats playing on all cylinders the last few games.
What about the Jets sideline coach tripping up the Miami player? That's messed up!!!

[Bunker]

Originally Posted by Spitnchew

Not a huge loss for the Bears. More of a reality check

The reality being, this bears team could never win the Super Bowl.

[Bunker]

Originally Posted by chachee52

Good to see the Pats playing on all cylinders the last few games.
What about the Jets sideline coach tripping up the Miami player? That's messed up!!!

I am suprised he hasn't been fired yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h32Gj...layer_embedded

[VTDragon]

Another great win against the NFC North - this time the victims were the Bears 36-7.

Some thoughts:

Anyone who wants to beat the Patiots best do so this year. They are getting better game by game and have a slew of high draft picks coming up. The future looks bright indeed!
I do not think there is a defense in the league that can keep this offense down right now. Brady, the O-Line, the receivers and the backs are all hitting on all cylinders. They can seemingly do as they please. What a joy to watch!
The defense is coming of age. 3 points by the Jets, 7 points by the Bears. The improvement of this very young defense has to rank as one of BB's best coaching jobs EVER! Really, there is no competition for coach of the year, (though I'm sure the Pats haters out there will try to come up with something)
Who would have thought that Fred Taylor could not displace either Danny Woodhead or BenJarvis Green-Ellis as a starting back? Amazing!
I hope the Krafts and BB suck it up and resign Logan Mankins this offseason. He has been a beast.
Now if we can just avoid any mental letdowns and major injuries this could turn out to be a very memorable season

Next up - Green Bay on the frozen tundra of .... Foxborough.

[VTDragon]

Whew!, a close call vs the Packers, but we'll take the win 31-27.

Some thoughts:

* The defensive line (except for Wilfork), looked VERY suspect for this game. No way a young QB should be able to have the kind of game Flynn had. Grade them "D" and hope for a wake-up call before the Buffalo game.
* Good job by the offensive line vs Clay Matthews, he was mostly a non-factor
* On the other hand, the offensive line did not consistantly get the push needed to give the Pats any kind of consistant running game.
* One good thing about the offense was their performance in hurry-up mode. Probably should have gone to that earlier.
* Dan Connoly's return was fun to watch.
* Re: the opening game onside kick... that miscue is all on the coaching staff.
* The Patriots were lucky that Aaron Rodgers was not playing, but as it was they did JUST ENOUGH to pull out a victory. Hopefully this was enough of a wake-up call for this young team to stop reading their press clippings and get back to playing like they are capable of.

On to snowy Buffalo next

[jesseboston81]

Originally Posted by VTDragon

The Patriots were lucky that Aaron Rodgers was not playing, but as it was they did JUST ENOUGH to pull out a victory.

This is what I keep coming back to in my mind. Regardless of anything else Rodgers could have been able to do during the game, at a minimum he would have been more prepared for that final play and would have given the Packers one more shot at the end zone. If Flynn could push the game that close on his first NFL start, Rodgers would have been able to use his skill and experience to really exploit and embarrass us.

I think Belichick had the best attitude during the 5th Quarter interview--listening to the guy you would have had no idea that we won, and I don't think the team should feel like they won either.

[mosesbotbol]

If they lost, it would've been kick in rears the Pats need to get through the Play Off's. I hope this will be a learning lesson.

The recovered on-side kick by the Packers was just fantastic. I think Belichick may use that one later this season.

[Bruins Fan]

I see it a little different.
The opening kickoff was all on Sanders for not doing his job he moved back to start blocking.
The D line is playing with the reserves, reserves.
Ed Hockley is a real P.O.S I think he thinks the fans pay to see him?
Questionable calls gave the Packers scoring opportunities.
Brandon Merryweather being out of position and blocking his own man lead to a long easy TD, I don't think we will see him next year he just don't get it?
Sloppy game but a win is a win.
You can bet practice will be hell this week.

Didn't see it but from what i have read it was ugly. A W is a W but that type of play will not fly against healthy teams in the playoffs.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by Bruins Fan

I see it a little different.
The opening kickoff was all on Sanders for not doing his job he moved back to start blocking.
The D line is playing with the reserves, reserves.
Ed Hockley is a real P.O.S I think he thinks the fans pay to see him?
Questionable calls gave the Packers scoring opportunities.
Brandon Merryweather being out of position and blocking his own man lead to a long easy TD, I don't think we will see him next year he just don't get it?
Sloppy game but a win is a win.
You can bet practice will be hell this week.

It wasn't so much the questionable calls, but that they were nitpicking every little thing that they would normally overlook b/c Goodell was in attendance.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by andysutherland

It wasn't so much the questionable calls, but that they were nitpicking every little thing that they would normally overlook b/c Goodell was in attendance.

Still doesn't give the refs the right to throw a flag for an "illegal hit" after watching it on the big screen at the stadium.
Either way, the defense looked like they were just sitting around waiting to have something go their way. Looked like the defense of the first half of the season, not of the last 3-4 games.
Hopefully they can bounce back and get back into the swing of things.

[Bruins Fan]

Originally Posted by chachee52

Still doesn't give the refs the right to throw a flag for an "illegal hit" after watching it on the big screen at the stadium.
Either way, the defense looked like they were just sitting around waiting to have something go their way. Looked like the defense of the first half of the season, not of the last 3-4 games.
Hopefully they can bounce back and get back into the swing of things.

Bill was pissed on the sideline saying who put that on the screen?
I bet who ever did is lucky if they still have a job, and you can bet that will never happen again

[Bunker]

The beauty of this game is they get the wake-up call they needed and Bill wanted without having to actually take the Loss.

We need that D line to get healthy before January.

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by andysutherland

It wasn't so much the questionable calls, but that they were nitpicking every little thing that they would normally overlook b/c Goodell was in attendance.

The officiating crew working that game also throws more flags than any other crew in the league.

[Bunker]

The Brian Hoyer watch is on again

[dunng]

[Bruins Fan]

Amazing how they do it with what nine starters missing?

[jesseboston81]

Looked pretty good today. Looked like the Pats were playing with their mid-season defense and not their early-season/last-week defense. They had better hang on to the good one for the playoffs.

[VTDragon]

Patriots AFC East Champs - home field throughout the playoffs


Some thoughts:

* I'll admit I was concerned when Buffalo marched down the field on the first drive to score a field goal. It looked like they could run on the Pats all day. Then Bill changed up the defensive scheme and ...well that was that.
* Congrats to B-J Green Ellis. He could get to a 1000 yard rushing season next week. Well deserved for him and big kudos to the offensive line for clearing the way.
* Congrats to (MVP) Brady for setting NFL record for most throws w/o a pick, (btw, do you think it just a coincidence that Kosar was playing for Belicheck when he set the old record?)
* I'd really like to see us re-sign Logan Mankins-though I don't think it will happen.
* I hope that some rest will get some of our injured guys back (esp. Hernandez, Connelly, Mike Wright and Dearderick)
* Couldn't believe that Welker dropped three balls thrown to him. I expect a good bounce back game from him next week - (if Belicheck plays him)

I've always said that all that can be asked of any sports team you root for is that they play hard and well enough to get into the playoffs ... after that it is a crap shoot. Yes, we would all like our team to win the championship every year but that is completely unrealistic. In that vein this Patriots team has been FANTASTIC. Virtually no one gave them any chance at all of making the playoffs this year with their very young defense, cast-off running backs, rookie tight ends and very young and suspect DB's. People actually thought they had given up on the season when they cast off Randy Moss. Instead, we have the best record in the league. I love this team. No matter what they do in the playoffs they have far exceeded expectations and have made for a very enjoyable NFL season. Belicheck deserves to be coach of the year (though I don't expect he'll get it because of how he treats the media). Congrats to him and the entire organization for a GREAT Season.

Now the question --how many starters play against Miami? (I expect ALL)

[taltos]

This is the most fun Pats team to watch in a long time. It would not shock me to see this team win the last game of the year.